Cellulite Treatment
What Is It?
What most people call cellulite is that orange-peel look. In medicine, cellulite is actually the name of something else: a painful, red skin infection caused by bacteria. The appearance you call cellulite shows up when the fat tissue under the skin grows a little and the connective tissue around it cannot keep up with that growth. The connective tissue pulls the skin down, and the fat pushes up towards the surface through the gaps.
It does not count as a disease, and weight alone does not explain it. We see it in most women, even slim ones. We spend fifteen or sixteen hours a day upright, sitting or standing. Gravity draws body fluids down towards the legs. When the return of blood through the veins slows a little, the fat tissue swells, the connective tissue between the fat stays too short to follow, and bulges form in between. The vertical arrangement of the connective tissue and hormonal influences also play a part. So we build the plan around whichever component dominates. We do not handle a picture where fluid retention leads the same way as one where connective tissue tethering dominates.
How Is It Done?
At assessment we look at the degree and type of the appearance. Does it show only when the skin is pinched, does it become obvious when you stand, or is it there when you lie down as well? We note separately how much fluid retention, sluggish circulation and skin laxity each contribute. Weight change, inactivity, and salt and water balance are also part of that conversation.
We have two lines of treatment. One is mesotherapy formulations that target circulation and fat tissue, the other is device-based treatment. We give mesotherapy with fine needles through evenly spaced points across the area, and a session takes 30 minutes on average. Massage devices help accumulated fluid drain from the area, but I don’t expect a big difference from them on their own, so we use them together with mesotherapy when needed. We build the plan as a series of sessions. Walking and drinking water in between are part of the plan too.
Who Is It For?
It suits patients who are bothered by the orange-peel look on the thighs, buttocks and hips, or who tell us it has stayed even after losing weight. Whatever their age or weight, most women deal with this. In city life, long hours of standing or sitting and a lot of packaged food and drinks make the picture more marked. In people prone to fluid retention the appearance is even more obvious.
Where there is marked skin laxity and excess weight, we discuss expectations separately, because in that picture cellulite treatment alone is not enough. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or an open wound at the site, bleeding disorders, uncontrolled chronic illness and known allergy to the ingredients of the formulation all change the plan. We go through these one by one at examination.
Process & Recovery
Assessment
We establish the degree and type of the appearance, the share of fluid retention and the skin laxity. The method, number of sessions and spacing come out of this assessment.
Session day
We cleanse the area. We deliver the formulation with fine needles through evenly spaced points, or carry out a device treatment. A session takes 30 minutes on average.
First 24-48 hours
Tenderness, redness and small bruises are possible in the area. Hot showers, sauna and intense exercise are put off for that day. We ask you to drink plenty of water and walk.
Between sessions
Sessions continue at the planned intervals. Movement and salt balance directly affect the result, so we also follow your routine at home.
End of series and maintenance
When the series ends, we compare photographs and set the maintenance interval.
Results & Duration
Change shows as the series progresses. Usually around the middle of the series the skin surface starts to look smoother and the swollen, heavy feeling begins to ease. The result we expect is a reduced appearance. We do not expect the surface to become completely smooth.
Keeping what you gain depends on continuity. When you stop moving, drinking water and keeping your weight stable, the appearance comes back over time. That is why we build the plan as a series plus maintenance, and we decide the maintenance interval at the check-up.
What Is Not Promised
Cellulite treatment does not count as a weight-loss method. It does not make you lose weight and does not dissolve all the regional fat. It does not tighten sagging skin. Stretch marks and varicose veins are separate subjects too.
We make no promise that the orange-peel look will go away completely or that you will lose a particular measurement. Cellulite is a structural feature. Our aim is to reduce the appearance and set up a care routine you can keep up. The response varies with tissue structure, hormonal status and lifestyle.
Key Benefits
- Reduced appearance
- Tightening
- Confidence boost
““I’ll just lie here, the doctor gives me an injection and my cellulite is gone” is not how it works. When you back it up by drinking a bit more water and walking, mesotherapy works much better.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does cellulite form?
It forms when the fat tissue under the skin grows and the connective tissue around it cannot adapt. The vertical arrangement of the connective tissue, hormonal influences, circulation and fluid retention all play a part together. So weight is only one piece of it.
Will it go if I lose weight?
It may not be enough on its own. Cellulite is seen in slim people too. Weight loss can soften the appearance but does not remove the structural cause.
How many sessions are needed?
The number depends on the picture. We build the plan as a series of sessions. We decide the exact number after assessment and update it according to the response.
When will I see a difference?
Usually around the middle of the series. First the swollen feeling eases, then the surface starts to look smoother.
Is it painful?
Not much. With mesotherapy you feel fine needle pricks, and with device treatments you feel pressure and warmth. There may be some tenderness for a few days afterwards.
Is the result permanent?
We do not promise permanence. If movement, water intake and weight stability are not kept up, the appearance returns over time. That is why we plan maintenance.
Do men get cellulite?
Far less often. The connective tissue is arranged differently in men, so the fat is not pushed towards the surface in the same way.
Is it only on the legs?
It is most common on the thighs, buttocks and hips. It can also appear on the abdomen and the backs of the arms, and the plan changes with the area.